Tuning and Repair Services
Chuck Beck Piano Services
Information
Why does your piano ned to be cared for regularly by a piano technician?
Your piano is made of thousands of parts that all need to be operating in harmony to produce expressive music that can be created with a smooth, even response, and a pleasing quality of sound. Most of your piano is wood, glue and felt that are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.
Your piano is made of thousands of parts that all need to be operating in harmony to produce expressive music that can be created with a smooth, even response, and a pleasing quality of sound. Most of your piano is wood, glue and felt that are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.
- Piano tuning
- Regulation
- Repair and Fabrication
- Tone voicing
- Humidity control
- Keytop Replacement
- Reconditioning or rebuilding service
- Refinishing
- Some finish repairs and cleaning
- Selecting an appropriate instrument
Tuning
Regular tuning service should be performed at least once a year for most instruments, and twice a year or more for pianos that are played heavily. The variations in humidity, moving, and the amount of playing all cause a piano to fall out of tune. Most pianos are designed to sound their best when tuned to A-440. When a piano falls in pitch even to A-438 a pitch adjustment tuning, and then a final tuning are necessary to affect a stable tuning. The tuning we are all used to hearing in contemporary music is equal temperament, where each of the twelve tones are equally spaced from one note to the next. But it wasn't always that way. Check out the descriptions of the different keys from the link on key color in the sidebar, then click on the "About Key Color" icon on the left side. ~Boy that sounds stuffy doesn't it? If you've read this whole thing and stayed awake, then I commend you, and surely you share my addiction to these wonderful musical beasts. Keep going, there's more~
Regulating
Regulating is a process of setting all of the mechanical adjustments of the piano's action to compensate for the effects of wear. All upright and grand pianos require periodic regulation to perform at their best. If a piano's regulating needs are not met, keys will be uneven in height; keys will feel and sound different from one another; a range of dynamics will become difficult to control, and be uneven from note to note. The fluid execution of expressive musical passages will become difficult to perform and your experience in playing will not be satisfying on a piano that is not properly regulated. If you have your piano serviced regularly, then some of the deterioration of the regulation can be prolonged with little steps and help keep the cost of your piano service down. ~Playing a piano that has keys that feel like bricks is horrible, but it can be fixed. Put the sledgehammer down sir, that piano just needs some regulating!~
Regular tuning service should be performed at least once a year for most instruments, and twice a year or more for pianos that are played heavily. The variations in humidity, moving, and the amount of playing all cause a piano to fall out of tune. Most pianos are designed to sound their best when tuned to A-440. When a piano falls in pitch even to A-438 a pitch adjustment tuning, and then a final tuning are necessary to affect a stable tuning. The tuning we are all used to hearing in contemporary music is equal temperament, where each of the twelve tones are equally spaced from one note to the next. But it wasn't always that way. Check out the descriptions of the different keys from the link on key color in the sidebar, then click on the "About Key Color" icon on the left side. ~Boy that sounds stuffy doesn't it? If you've read this whole thing and stayed awake, then I commend you, and surely you share my addiction to these wonderful musical beasts. Keep going, there's more~
Regulating
Regulating is a process of setting all of the mechanical adjustments of the piano's action to compensate for the effects of wear. All upright and grand pianos require periodic regulation to perform at their best. If a piano's regulating needs are not met, keys will be uneven in height; keys will feel and sound different from one another; a range of dynamics will become difficult to control, and be uneven from note to note. The fluid execution of expressive musical passages will become difficult to perform and your experience in playing will not be satisfying on a piano that is not properly regulated. If you have your piano serviced regularly, then some of the deterioration of the regulation can be prolonged with little steps and help keep the cost of your piano service down. ~Playing a piano that has keys that feel like bricks is horrible, but it can be fixed. Put the sledgehammer down sir, that piano just needs some regulating!~
Voicing
When a piano is in perfect tune and regulated well, the tone can be addressed and properly voiced. Every instrument has a voice, or tonal sound of its own, and as your piano technician I can help you get more of the tone you would enjoy out of your piano. The sound can be made to be "warmer," or "singing and full" or "brighter" to fit your preferences, within the capacity of each instrument.
Humidity Control
A piano is made largely of wood, leather, felt, and glue. Maintaining a constant relative humidity at approximately 42% can greatly help prolong a good tune, slow the deterioration of regulation, and prolong the total life of your piano. Installation of a humidity control system can help manage this process from inside the piano. You should be aware of the stress put on your piano by seasonal humidity swings. You can also keep a home humidifier running in the winter to help offset big swings in seasonal humidity. ~Not to mention that your eyes won't be glued together in your sleep if you keep the humidity steady~
Refinishing
An unattractive finish can make an eyesore of any good piano. There are several ways this can be repaired. Some types of finish repairs can be done right in your home! Many old and crackled, or crazed finishes have to be chemically stripped of and a new finish applied. In some cases the damage hasn't gotten too bad, or the patina created over time is very desirable to keep under a new finish. With a simple consultation with you and your piano we could find out what would be best for you and your piano.
Rebuilding/Reconditioning
All instruments reach a wear point in their life at which major repairs are needed. As a fully trained piano technician, many aspects of piano repair and maintenance are within my range of skills. When a job needs to be done, and it is too big for my shop, your home, or not economically viable for me to perform for you, some jobs can be completed through a network of professional rebuilders. ~PIANO ON!~
When a piano is in perfect tune and regulated well, the tone can be addressed and properly voiced. Every instrument has a voice, or tonal sound of its own, and as your piano technician I can help you get more of the tone you would enjoy out of your piano. The sound can be made to be "warmer," or "singing and full" or "brighter" to fit your preferences, within the capacity of each instrument.
Humidity Control
A piano is made largely of wood, leather, felt, and glue. Maintaining a constant relative humidity at approximately 42% can greatly help prolong a good tune, slow the deterioration of regulation, and prolong the total life of your piano. Installation of a humidity control system can help manage this process from inside the piano. You should be aware of the stress put on your piano by seasonal humidity swings. You can also keep a home humidifier running in the winter to help offset big swings in seasonal humidity. ~Not to mention that your eyes won't be glued together in your sleep if you keep the humidity steady~
Refinishing
An unattractive finish can make an eyesore of any good piano. There are several ways this can be repaired. Some types of finish repairs can be done right in your home! Many old and crackled, or crazed finishes have to be chemically stripped of and a new finish applied. In some cases the damage hasn't gotten too bad, or the patina created over time is very desirable to keep under a new finish. With a simple consultation with you and your piano we could find out what would be best for you and your piano.
Rebuilding/Reconditioning
All instruments reach a wear point in their life at which major repairs are needed. As a fully trained piano technician, many aspects of piano repair and maintenance are within my range of skills. When a job needs to be done, and it is too big for my shop, your home, or not economically viable for me to perform for you, some jobs can be completed through a network of professional rebuilders. ~PIANO ON!~
